THE THUNDERBIRD
MABULA GROUND HORNBILL PROJECT
NEWSLETTER
wishing you a glorious 2020
May your friends be true, your laughter genuine,
your work matter and your spirit be free.
!!!!!!!WOOHOO!!!!!!!
Southern Ground-hornbills have been chosen as the BirdLife South Africa Bird of the Year for 2020. Watch this space for amazing articles, ground-hornbill collectables, posters and more.... this is their chance for FAME.
IUCN SSC CHAIRS MEETING
Lucy presenting the work of the Hornbill Specialist Group at the IUCN SSC Chairs meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Lucy presenting the work of the Hornbill Specialist Group at the IUCN SSC Chairs meeting in Abu Dhabi.
An incredible opportunity to network and learn from the best. .
An incredible opportunity to network and learn from the best. .
We were kept captive in a 5-star hotel to maximise the learning and sharing opportunities but we were let out for one day to see some of the sights of Abu Dhabi - here inside the Grand Mosque, with the biggest single carpet in the world, a truly exquisite thing to behold.
We were kept captive in a 5-star hotel to maximise the learning and sharing opportunities but we were let out for one day to see some of the sights of Abu Dhabi - here inside the Grand Mosque, with the biggest single carpet in the world, a truly exquisite thing to behold.
Our built-for-purpose trailer for moving the reintroduction aviaries from site to site. A massive thank you to Jarryd Alexander for taking the initiative to find this support and to the Trailer Boys (Mark & John) and Dion Bezuidenhout for partnering with us on the conservation journey.
Our built-for-purpose trailer for moving the reintroduction aviaries from site to site. A massive thank you to Jarryd Alexander for taking the initiative to find this support and to the Trailer Boys (Mark & John) and Dion Bezuidenhout for partnering with us on the conservation journey.
ground-hornbill first aid course
We hosted an avian first aid course for everyone in the ground-hornbill working group in South Africa to better prepare us all for dealing with sick, poisoned, electrocuted or injured birds in that critical time before we get them to veterinary help.
The first half was theory, taught by our brilliant vet Dr Katja Koeppel.
The first half was theory, taught by our brilliant vet Dr Katja Koeppel.
Then came the practical section, where the team divided into groups and practiced several techniques.
Then came the practical section, where the team divided into groups and practiced several techniques.
The team from Umgeni River Bird Park practising intubation.
The team from Umgeni River Bird Park practising intubation.
Lucy had the privilege of presenting her work at the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is on the CPSG Development Path and attended an two-day retreat for additional training. This considerably strengthens the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project's ability to continually improve its conservation planning for ground-hornbills. Thank you CPSG for investing in us.
Lucy had the privilege of presenting her work at the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is on the CPSG Development Path and attended an two-day retreat for additional training. This considerably strengthens the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project's ability to continually improve its conservation planning for ground-hornbills. Thank you CPSG for investing in us.
conservation planning for ground-hornbill beyond our borders: building partnerships
This training led straight into facilitating the first conservation planning workshop for ground-hornbills in Zimbabwe. The National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo hosted the workshop, with support from BirdLife Zimbabwe and co-organisation by Merlyn Nkomo and her team.
Participants defining areas of known presence and absence to document priority areas for research and conservation action.
Participants defining areas of known presence and absence to document priority areas for research and conservation action.
Participants working on causal flow diagrams to determine how the threats to the species came about and how best to counter them.
Participants working on causal flow diagrams to determine how the threats to the species came about and how best to counter them.
meet the team:
Sophie Neller
This is a sad one to post as Sophie is leaving us to head home to the UK after giving us and ground-hornbills 5 years of her life.
Growing up in Brighton, UK, I was an avid horse-rider from the age of 4 and so spent my childhood outdoors in the muddy English countryside. From there I always knew I wanted to work with animals in some way, though could never quite figure out exactly which career I wanted to pursue.
It was only during my studies at the University of Chester that I discovered my love of hornbills. Having never been interested in birds before, this was somewhat of a surprise! On one of our regular trips to Chester Zoo, the pair of Great Indian Hornbills caught my eye, their charismatic behaviour totally captivated me, and I was hooked. I went on to focus every piece of course work I could on hornbills so that I could research them further.
After graduation, my sole focus was gaining work experience with hornbills in the wild, and so I started to send emails to anyone and everyone who was working in the field. It took me one email per month for approximately a year before my now manager said I could join the Project as an intern, and the rest is history.
Oh the joys of the 'never-simple' Southern Ground-Hornbill.
Oh the joys of the 'never-simple' Southern Ground-Hornbill.
Over the last five and a half years my work has been hugely varied, from dressing up as an over-sized hornbill to assist the environmental education programme, to capturing wild Southern Ground-Hornbills for genetic sampling, to monitoring new re-introduced groups on horse-back, to completing my own MSc study looking into the hormonal correlations of gender and throat colouration. I have been lucky enough to travel to six African countries, present at two international conferences and conduct field work throughout the South African range, including within the incredible Kruger National Park.
Sophie preparing samples for the endocrine analysis that formed the basis of her MSc.
Sophie preparing samples for the endocrine analysis that formed the basis of her MSc.
I feel privileged to be a member of this small but effective team (& family) of dedicated conservationists, and working for the Project has opened my eyes to not only an entirely new skillset, but also to new cultures and perspectives which have shaped me as both a biologist and as a person, for which I am eternally thankful.
Hard at work in the Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, camp site.
Hard at work in the Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, camp site.
November saw us working in Kruger National Park again.
We facilitated the Biodiversity Management Plan workshop for the SANParks team and it was an extremely fruitful experience as the team brought deep insights into both what is genuinely feasible in-terms of conservation action and what is required within the national parks framework. The start of a beautiful dialogue for ground-hornbills.
It was extremely dry for the first few weeks and then the summer rains arrived.
It was extremely dry for the first few weeks and then the summer rains arrived.
And the rivers flowed and the bush just came to life.
And the rivers flowed and the bush just came to life.
we all need a little wilderness to thrive
this pair has eaten their own chicks for years but,
with a move to a wild environment, everything clicked into place.
We would hate to lose you, but if you no longer wish to receive our news, then please drop us a line at project@ground-hornbill.org.za
